Electrically-propelled vehicle.



J. M. KLINGELSMITH. ELECTRICALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE.

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Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, I913.

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I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1913- 1 165.,784h Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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ELECTRICALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE. APPLICATION -FILED JUNE I9, I913.L1I65J784I, Patented De0.28,1915.

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l a ew UNIT s'rn rus PATENT onnicn JOSEPH M. KLINGELSMITI-I, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO KLINGELSMITH ELECTRIQTRUCK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01E MAINE.

ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. KLINGEL- SMITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the Warner Hotel, Thirtythird street and CottageGrove avenue' in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Propelled Vehicles,of which the following is a specification.

Among engineers and others connected with the motor car industry it haslong been recognized that the electrically propelled vehicle has manyinherent advantages over other mechanically propelled Vehicles and inparticular that the electric car'is especially adapted for work incongested traflic and other places where frequent starts and stops arenecessary. Because of its high torque at low speed the electric motor isparticularly suited for quick acceleration which is necessary under suchconditions; and where initial cost, cost of maintenance, and cost ofoperation are also carefully considered, as in the case of commercialvehicles, the demand is also great for a power vehicle which is low infirst cost, which will operate with a maximum efficiency at differentspeeds,.and which is low in its maintenance cost. The electric vehicleanswers these requirements and in addition has such other advantages asadaptability to all conditions of weather and temperature; quietness ofrunning, which is simply another manifestation of its mechanicalefliciency; and simplicity in construction and operation.

The single disadvantage of the electric vehicle has always beenitslimited mileage on a battery charge, which is, ofcourse, due

to the great weight of battery necessary for a given output, and thepractical limits which are reached in the size and weight of the batteryequipment. Vehicles, of course, have been built with batteries of greatcapacity, but at the expense of great weight;

which means increased cost of operation incarrying around the extra deadweight, and

' increased maintenance cost because of the extra load on the frame,axles and other parts of the vehicle, in addition to the in creasedmaintenance cost of the battery itself; and such a vehicleis necessarilylimited in the proportion of its carrying capacity to its own weight. Abattery of large capacity and consequent long discharge rate alsorequires a proportionately longer Specification of Letters Patent.Patentqgdl Deg 23, 1915 Application filed June 19, 1913. Serial No.774,716.

charging during which the interest on the.

investment is being lost. been made to overcome this last disadvantageby boosting a'battery on charge, or charging it at a very high chargingrate; with consequent injury to the battery and therefore highermaintenance cost and shorter life. In the operation of an electric,vehicle, time is also lost in giving the batteries the care andattention which they require in addition to the charging, such aswashing the plates, renewing electrolyte, flushing, etc., and some ofthe time consumed in these operations is usually lost in removingbatteries from tlzir more or less inaccessible positions in the vehiclesand in again replacing them.

In order to overcome some of the forego- Attempts have ing disadvantagesattendant upon the opchar ed one, with practically no loss of time inthe running of the vehicle. A vehicle so designed and equipped with areadily removable battery can work continuously on scheduled trips. andbattery stations can be arranged where the vehicle may be supplied witha fresh battery as often as necessary, so that it may be kept incontinuous operation; while the dead weight of battery equipment whichit carries constantly can be reduced to a minimum, since battery changescan be arranged as desired. In such case also, if unusual traii'icconditions, such as snow or deep mud cause an extra power consumption, alarger battery may be supplied, or additional battery replacements mavbe madeto suitsuch conditions, still without material sacrifice inthe'running time of the vehicle.

In addition a battery which can be readily removed from the vehicle andis designed to be charged outside of the vehicle can be charged at a lowcharging rate with-v out sacrificing the running time of the vehicle,with consequent increase in the life and power efliciency of thebatteryand decrease in its maintenance cost, and can also receivebettercare and attention in the washing and replacement of plates,renewal of electrolyte, flushing, etc., than a battery which remains inan inaccessible position in a vehicle and is available for inspection,

care and attention only during such times.v

' embodying the principles of this invention.

In such drawings: Figure 1 is a view of the vehicle phassis in sideelevation. Fig.

2isatop plan view with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalvertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4' is a view showing thebattery compartment in rear end elevation. Fig. 5 is a transversevertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through one of the contact makers forconnecting the removal battery to the vehicle. Fig. 8 is a verticalsection through the same part. on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9, is awiring diagram of the complete vehicle. Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectionthrough one of the locking devices for locking the removable battery inthe vehicle.

As shown in said drawings the truck chassis comprises a horizontal frame10, and wheels, axles, springs and driving gear of well known andapproved form; and below the frame is suspended the battery which ishoused in a battery compartment 15 suspended from the frame of thevehicle. More particularly described the frame of the vehicle includeshorizontal side members 16, 16 which may be inswept or drawn together atthe front of the vehicle, as shown, to permit of shorter turning of thefront wheels; and connecting them are transverse members 18, 18. Fromthe latter are suspended vertical members 19, 19 pref erably of anglesection and formed integral with horizontal sills or cross members 20,20 as shown in Fig. 3. These carry the weight of the battery which issuspended from the frame of the vehicle and on them are laid horizontalrails 21 forming a track for a small car or truck in which the bat 'teryis mounted. The rear part of the bat --ter 'X. Their ends are riveted tothe rearterycom'partment' is braced by a diagonal bracing formed of twoangle members 24, 25 each bent into the shape of a V and joined at theirapexes in the form of a letmost of the vertical members 19 and to themare also joined the ends of short vertical struts 26, 26 foradditionalreinforcement. The top, bottom, rear and sides of Y the entirebatteryv compartment are inclosed by a thin sheet metal lining 28 inorder to exclude water and dirt. Its front end is closed by a door 30which is hinged at its top and designed to fold horizontally across'itsmiddle, as shown at 31.

Referring now to the means for inserting and withdrawing a completebattery from the vehicle there is also provided a small car or truck 34which is'constructed with a horizontal rectangular frame of anglemembers 35 mounted on flanged wheels 36. The battery cells are arrangedin trays 37 of well known and approved construction and the trays areset cross-wise in the frame 35 of the battery car, the ends .of eachtray resting-on the horizontal flanges of the two side members of theframe; and in order to brace all of the trays together to preventvibration and jolting from working them loose a band or strap 38 isbolted around all of the trays near their tops, the strap being ade intwo pieces meeting at diagonally op osite corners and secured by twobolts 40. The wheels 36 are made solid without rails.

In order to provide suflicient clearance. over the front axle 50 of thevehicle for the insertion of the battery car 34 into the batterycompartment 15, and its withdrawal therefrom, while still leavingsufli'cient road clearance, the axle is dropped in'its middle part, "asshown, and the battery compartment is placed entirely .behind it; therails 21 being discontinued over the axle. In front of the axle,however, the track is continued by the addition oftwo rails 55 which aresuspended from the frame above through vertical struts 56 with diagonalbracing 57 to support the battery car when it is pulled forward out ofthe vehicle; andthe break in the rails over the axle 50 isbridged bymeans of two parallel bars 60, 60, spaced considerably nearer togetherthan the two rails and of suflicient height to support the" car axles 42when the battery car is drawn over them. By reason of the difference inheight between the axles 42 andthe rims ofthe wheels which rest on therails, the

bridge pieces 60may be placed considerablyvehicle it is of coursesubject to a great deal of .jol-ting and bumpingover rough roads andmeans are therefore provided as follows for holding it firmly down onitsrails, and forancho'ring it solidly within the battery compartment:Inthe lower forward-part of the compartment and fixed to each side wallare horizontal plates or bars 63, each of which is cut off on itsunderside to form-a bevel or wedge surface 64 engaging with an end ofthe first axle 42 on the battery car; this axle being made slightlylarger in diameter at its ends than the other two axles which aredesigned to pass freely under the.

bar 63 when the battery car is drawn out or in. The diameter of thesecond and third axles is sufficient however, for their ends 6 theseaxles and prevent the car from tipping downward in front, in case abreak is left between the rails 55 and the stationary platform uponwhich the battery car is drawn. At its rear end the car frame 35 isprovide'd withtapered or conical projections 68 adapted to engage incorrespondingly shaped openings through heavy plates 70 which aresecured to the vertical members 19 and the adjacent vertical struts 26of the rear wall of the battery housing. By the wedging of theprojections 68 into these openings and the wedging of the front axle 42under the two bars 63 the car is held firmly down upon its rails and itis necessary therefore only to provide a locking means to prevent itfrom rolling forward. For this purpose diametrical slots are cut throughthe ends of the projections 68' which extend'beyond the plates 7 O forengagement by two looking bolts or pins -75. The latter are connectedtogether by a sliding horizontal bar or shaft 7 8 having bearings in thelongitudinal flanges of the two vertical reinforcing struts 26 whichconnect the diagonal braces 24 and 25. The bearings through theseflanges are formed by cutting notches in them to receive the bar 78 andconfining the bar within them by cover plates 80. The pins are inserted,or withdrawn, to lock the battery car within the battery compartment, orto release it, by sliding the bar 78 horizontally. 1

The back wall of the battery housing, formed by the vertical anddiagonal frame members 19, and 24, 25, respectively, with theirreinforcing parts and sheet metal covering, also supports contactdevices which are engaged by corresponding parts on the battery card tomake the .necessary electrical .garage, or otherwise.

connections when the battery car is runinto its compartment, and forthis purpose two insulating blocks 81 are secured to the brace 25. Fromeach of these there extends inward a metal strip or blade 82 which ismade integral with ,a threaded shank 83 secured in the insulating blockby means of a nut 84; and to these shanks are attached the wires 85leading-to the controller of the vehicle. On the end of the battery car34 are I placed corresponding female, parts each of them comprising ahousing or receptacle 86 of suitable insulating material within which isarranged a flat spring 87 bent through a curve in its middle part andwith its ends approaching each other to engage with the correspondingblade or contact piece 82. 'The middle part of the curved spring 87 issecured to a metal block 92 having a stem or shank 93 similar to thepart 83, and similarly secured in the insulation, and to it is attacheda wire 95 leading from one pole of the battery. The otherbatteryterminal is similarly connected to an identical socketreceptacle. In Fig. 9 the wiring of the vehicle is showndiagrammatically and it will be seen that by means of the two wires 95the current is led to the contact devices on the end of the battery car,and thence through the wires 85 to the controller, indicateddiagrammatically at 100, for distribution to the motors'as required. Thetwo terminals of the battery are also connected by other wires 102 witha charging receptacle or socket of any well known and approved formwhich is fixed to the battery car between the two sockets 86 and isindicated diagrammatically at 103, so that when the battery car iswithdrawn from the vehicle its battery may be charged by the insertioninto this receptacle of a charging plug connected to a source of currentin the well known manner; and 1n addition to these parts two wires 106coninserted into this receptacle and the battery charged within thevehicle. An additional purpose of this latter receptacle is to pro- Videmeans for energizing the vehlcle when its battery is removed from it bythe insertion of a charging plug connected by suitable flexible wiring,trolley or other device, witha source of current; so that it may bemoved about under its own power in .the

As an additional improvement the inclosed battery compartment. with itssheet metal covering 1s provided with means for cooling and ventilatingits interior by the introduction of fresh air through a tube or funnel120 havinglts outer end exposed at the side of the vehicle and enlargedor ,flared to catch the wind;

and in the rear part ofthe housing openings or louvers 122 are providedfor the outlet of air. A trap door 130 is also provided in the top ofthe.battery housing at its front end, which is accessible beneath theseat 131 of the vehicle so that access may be had into the housing forthe inspection and repair ofthe battery when the vehicle is on the roadand facilities are not at hand for withdrawing it from the vehicle. Insuch case the trap door may be opened and the battery car drawn forwardto bring the part of the battery requiring attention beneath it; and ifit is necessary to withdraw the battery car far enough for its frontaxle to overhang the ends of the rails 55 the horizontal bars 63 willengage with the'last axle and prevent the back end of the car fromtipping up.

In the operation of the device it is-necessary only to run the vehicleup to a suitable platform of the height of the rails 35, which plaformmay also be provided with rails to 1 meet those carried by the vehicle,when first battery may be charged and replaced.

the battery car may be withdrawn from the battery compartment andreplaced by, another containing a charged battery; or the if desired. Ineither case also current may be supplied to the vehicle when its batteryis absent through thecharging receptacle 110 for the purpose of movingit about under its own power, and if desired, its battery may be chargedwithin it through the same means; or the vehicle may be energized by anexternal current and its battery charged at the same time, the batteryat such time being floated on the line, as it is termed. The simpleoperation of the door 30 and the locking device 7 8 is all that isnecessary to permit the withdrawal of a battery from its compartment, ortheinsertion of a fresh one to replace it, the

electric connections being made and broken by the simple entrance of thebattery or its withdrawalas abovedescribed.

All features herein disclosed and not specifically claimed are notdisclaimed or. dedicated to the public, ut are the subject of otherapplications fihid or to be filed.

I claim as my inven ion:

' 1. The combination with an electric veh cle having a batterycompartment and rails in such compartment, of a car having wheels to.fit such rails and adapted to enter entirely into such compartment, abattery mounted in such car, means for locking the car in suchcompartment, an electrical contact device on such car, electrical connectionsfrom the battery to such contact device, and an engaging contactdevice on the vehicle.

2. The combination with an electric 've- 4 hicle having a batterycompartment. and a battery for supplying current to such vehicle, ofrails in such battery compartment,

and a car having wheels fitting such rails,

adapted to contain the complete battery as a unit, and to eflicientlytransport such battery about outside of the vehicle, such car with itscontained battery being adapted to enter entirely into such batterycompartment.

'3. The combination with ":1 electric vehicle and an inclosed batterycompartment of ventilating means for introducing fresh air into such.compartment and causing a circulation of air therethrough.

4. The combination with an electric vehicle having an inclosed batterycompartment, of ventilating means for introducing fresh air intov suchcompartment, such means including an air intake opening, an airdischarge opening, and means for inducing a draft of air through suchopenings and through the battery compartment.

5. The combinationwith an electric vehicle, a battery compartmenttherefor, a removablebattery in such compartment, wir ing in thevehicle, and contact devices for connecting such battery with suchwiring, of another contact device carried'by said vehicle for supplyingcurrent thereto. from an outside source and independentlyof saidbattery. 1 I 1 6. The combination with an electric vehicle having abattery compartment, of a car adapted to enter entirely into suchcompartment and having wheels adapting it for eflicient transportingabout outside of the compartment, a battery mounted in such car, meansfor locking the car in the compartment, an electrical contact device onthe car, electrical connections from the battery to such contact device,and an engaging contact device on the vehicle.

7.. The combination with an electric vehicle having a batterycompartment, of a car, a complete battery for such vehicle mounted insuch car, such car with its contained battery being adapted to enteren-" tirely into such compartment, and wheels on such car adapting itfor efficient transporting about outside of the vehicle.

8. The combination with an electric vehicle, of a car adapted to containthe c'omplete battery as a unit and having wheelsv adapting it forefiicient transporting about outside of the vehicle, such car with itscontained battery being adapted to enter entirely into such batterycompartment.

10. The combination with an electric ve- 5 hicle having a batterycompartment and a battery for supplying current to such Vehicle, of acar adapted-t0 contain the complete battery as a unit and having wheelsadapting it for eflicient transporting about 10 outside of the vehicle,such car withits conpresence of two 15

